The Grill on the Alley

The steaks were good. Only thing was the temperature on the steaks were swapped between me any my guest. The dry aged steak had a great flavor but not overpowering. The cocktails were good.

Everything was delicious. All the staff were highly professional. The oysters were devoured. The desserts were very tasty. The steaks were incredible. They even brought out some Brussels even though they were not on the menu.

The Grill on the Alley is a classic American steakhouse offering a sophisticated yet comfortable dining experience. Guests enjoy premium steaks, fresh seafood, and seasonal specialties, all served with attentive, professional service. The ambiance suits date nights, celebrations, or casual lunches, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their wine list and handcrafted cocktails complement the menu perfectly, making it a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike.

Our party had extremely high expectations for The Grill on the Alley, but unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing from start to finish. We had a reservation on December 13th to celebrate a birthday for a party of 16, with a minimum spend requirement of $1,500. Prior to the event, the event coordinator failed to inform us that a large event would be taking place in the area the same evening. This resulted in severe traffic congestion and a lack of available parking, causing most of our party to arrive late through no fault of our own. Upon arrival, we were immediately frustrated to discover that the menu being offered was not the same as the menu advertised online. The majority of our party had reviewed the online menu ahead of time and had already decided what they wanted to order. Given the substantial minimum spend requirement, this discrepancy was especially upsetting, as the items we intended to purchase were not available. After finally selecting from the limited menu provided, we were then informed that many of the items we attempted to order were out of stock, causing yet another delay while our group tried to choose alternatives. Once orders were finally placed, it took over an hour and a half for the food to arrive. When the meals were eventually served, they were cold, overcooked, and more than half of the ordered sides were missing. This was completely unacceptable given the price point and reputation of the restaurant. Despite multiple complaints being communicated, the manager, Alex Gomez, never came to our table to address the situation, offer an apology, or show any concern whatsoever. This lack of leadership and accountability was extremely unprofessional, especially in a hospitality setting. I would like to acknowledge that our waiter Angelo and waitress Diamond were absolutely outstanding. They were attentive, professional, and clearly did their best to manage an overwhelming situation. They deserve recognition and praise for their efforts. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience for a restaurant we had high hopes for. As first-time guests, this was one of the worst dining experiences our group has had, and unfortunately, it has left us with no desire to return or recommend this establishment.

The restaurant wasn't busy, but the service was okay at best. We ordered cocktails and an appetizer to start - cocktails came but the appetizers came about 20 minutes later. We had to ask for water refills several times throughout the evening. To top it off, we were told it was last call and rushed out of the restaurant around 8:30. Considering our bill was close to 1k for 5 people, you'd think we would have been treated much, much better.

Our experience at The Grill on the Halley was memorable from start to finish. The ambience is a blend of modern sophistication with a cozy touch, making it perfect for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings. We began our evening at the bar, where the selection of distinct wines impressed us. The knowledgeable bartender guided us through their offerings, ensuring we started with the perfect wine. Once inside the restaurant, the atmosphere remained warm and inviting, with attentive service enhancing our dining experience. The menu boasts an array of enticing dishes, highlighting high-quality ingredients. We started with a Beef Carpaccio. While it was presented beautifully and tasted exquisite, the portion seemed rather small for sharing. For those with a hearty appetite, ordering an additional appetizer might be wise. The Caesar Salad was more appropriately sized for sharing and featured crisp, fresh ingredients with a delightful dressing. It was a great precursor to the main courses. For our entrees, we had the Filet Mignon and the New York steak. Both steaks were cooked to perfection, tender and bursting with flavor. The Filet Mignon, in particular, was a standout, offering a melt-in-your-mouth experience that truly highlighted the quality of the beef. Overall, The Grill on the Halley offers a top-notch dining experience with a well-curated menu and an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere. It's a great spot for enjoying a fine meal with family and friends. Probably the best wine list in San Jose Downtown, featuring a remarkable selection of notable wines. Although the prices can be quite steep, you can still enjoy a variety of exquisite wines without breaking the bank. For a more affordable experience, consider choosing wines by the glass to savor the variety and quality.

Hey guys, You can't fix what you don't know is broken. So here we go. I wouldn't normally comment, but I have too. I used to work in Hospitality, yes, I worked here many moons ago as a Fairmont property. Pastry dept. Under Francisco. It's my city too, I love San Jose and walk the beat every week. We just spent $100 plus a $20 tip for three drinks, truffle fries and the wagyu sushi roll, (is this APP a joke?) We stopped by for drinks at the bar last night after visiting the Christmas Faire in front of the Hotel. We have come by at least 3x in the last 6 months; we're trying to help you. But the service and food have been poor for the prices you're charging. Now this is the last time we come to this establishment. Apparently, you don't want any new business. #1. The bar area is super cold and uninviting when you walk in. The doors need to be kept closed. I might suggest, a velvet barrier to block the cold wind from blowing in for starters. #2 Open the drapes so you can see the outside lights would be a suggestion. #3 Drinks and the bartender were very pleasant, she was super nice. No bad vibe on her at all. She made us very attractive cocktails. The fries we ordered were good and came fast. Now to the apps we ordered, The beef sushi roll which came very late, was appalling. This is the grand hotel in downtown SJ. No taste at all, 1 oz of cold beef wrapped in a sushi paper, two strands of carrot and rice that barely held together. for $34.00. Yikes. You won't make it like this. Time to pick up your game. Hotel drinks are always steep, we know this. No problem here at $20 a pop. But who would order any food when it's this cold inside. Even the hostess was freezing. Anyways, I know good help is hard to find these days. Just some friendly advice from patrons who live close by. This space you have is great, make it work!! Cheers, Scott

Very rarely do I give a full 5 Star rating. This Resto impressed our party of three. Everything about our dining experience was fantastic. Paul, our server, went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and taken care of throughout the meal. He was a wealth of knowledge with a great sense of humor. The other staff was so helpful and professional as well. Our food was delicious to the last bite and very well presented. We started with fresh baked warm bread and butter and some crispy Calamari. For our Entrées we enjoyed the Nordic Halibut with Brussel Sprouts, Australian Lamb Chops with Lobster Mac-n-Cheese and a perfectly cooked medium rare 8oz. Flat Iron Steak with Miso Glazed Asparagus. Followed by a spongy yet delectable Japanese Cheesecake that was first released to us that night. Also we devoured a scrumptious Blood Orange Bread Pudding. We all agreed that we should have ordered two of those! I treated myself to a Highland Park 12 Scotch served neat that complimented my meal perfectly.

I am dying for door dash delivery from here. Everything is divine! The creamed spinach is delish!!! Steaks are cooked to perfection! Great special, cozy date night! Excellent wine list too!

SJ downtown restaurant, so naturally I worried about parking. Asked the parking question on Yelp and nobody responded! 50 W San Fernando St is a good parking option. Underground, $8 whole night, lobby access after 9pm, just 3 minutes walk to the restaurant. Monday night the place is pretty empty and it's a big place with outdoor and indoor areas. We had our private dining room. Service was good. We were greeted with friendly smiles, I was directed where to go when I got lost multiple times. lol. The bar tender was very good. I had no idea what I wanted, so I told her what I like and she whipped up a blueberry gin for me with fresh blueberry! It tasted so good, not overly sweet but a great intro to the night. Food wise, it was just ok. We had our own menu of arrangement, but the prosciutto Croquette was a bit cold on the inside though crispy on the outside. The starter was Sonoma Greens Salad with Madagascar Vanilla Vinaigrette. It was too much dressing for me as I normally liked my salad a bit dry. The veggie were fresh and the pine nuts and strawberry was fine, but I really don't like the overdose of vinaigrette. For main, I had the pan seared king salmon with their house sauvignon Blanc. It was with teriyaki sauce and corn puree. The veggie was fresh, I like the sauce not so heavy but the salmon was overcooked and dry. Someone else had the Mary's Organic Chicken Breast with aleppo butter and said it was also dry. Another coworker had the 6oz filet mignon with peppercorn sauce and said the steak was a bit cold. We ended the night with a passion-mango mousse, it was ok, the mousse was covered by some hard shell. We shared it and I don't have much memory about it, just that it didn't get me disappointed. The whole meal's talking point would be the blueberry gin and good service.

I had always wanted to stop by and have a meal here....but since I was pressed for time since I was attending a local event, we just stopped here for a small, quick bite. Our server Justin provided great service and was friendly. It was not busy when we went, I am thinking because it was a weekday. We went around 6:30 pm so it should have been peak dinner time. We were the only one sitting in the front of the restaurant except for a couple of people seated at the bar. I got the crispy shrimp ad my friend got the Mary's Airline Chicken. What made the shrimp crispy was that it was like tempura shrimp. The sauce of the shrimp was good, not overwhelming sweet but enough to give the shrimp flavor. But nothing to be too excited about and more expensive than other places. My friend was not impressed with her chicken, she said that for the price it lacked flavor and it was more on the dry side. They have a variety of choices in their menu. If I come back, I wouldn't be opposed to trying something else but I don't think I personally would come out of my way to eat here again. There is a nice ambiance to the place. The restaurant is pretty big, there is a bar, outdoor seating, "lounge" type of seating in the front and restaurant seating in the back. No private parking lot since it's right in the heart of downtown.

The restaurant opens at 4pm for dinner. I didn't realize how big the restaurant was because we sat at the bar. It's kind of got a lounge vibe in the restaurant seating in the back little darker and cozy where the bar is a little brighter more vibrant with street access and a little more activity. I went with my husband, and we shared the 8 ounce fillet and asparagus and a salad. We split everything and it was more than enough. A salad came split for us, and it was so colorful bright, and very light. The dressing was perfect citrusy and tasty. The steak was cooked to perfection. However I would've liked a little more salt just keeping it real, but it had a huge pot of butter on it and it was so yummy. The asparagus was cooked with a nice little crunch and not too mushy fork tender.

Uniqueness: Japanese twist on some of the dishes here! Wait Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][x] Service: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][x] Cost: [x][x][x][x][x] Recommendation? Although wait time was not good due to 20 people ordering steak at the same time, service was impeccable and quality was top notch. Can't go wrong with a filet mignon here and aim to have your meat slightly less cooked than expected to get your meat quality what you expect. Excellent service here at this beautiful restaurant in Downtown San Jose. I've seen this place so many times but have never gotten a chance to try it until today. Interior was fancy and service here is perfection as they are always on point to make sure your meal is perfect. We went here for a work outing with 20 people all ordering steaks at the same time. Wait was terrible to be honest at 1 hour for it to come out but what do you expect when 20 people simultaneously order steaks at lunch. Once the food did come out though, the food was impeccable and I thought it was a great filet mignon. Drinks were also good too and I know for a formal place to go to in San Jose, I'll consider having The Grill as one of my go-to options from here on out.

Since I was staying at the Signia by Hilton San Jose for a little stay-cation I decided to go downstairs & treat myself to a fancy dinner & glad! For the appetizer I ordered their Clam Chowder, entree; Wagyu Bavette 8 oz. (medium rare), glazed carrots, Miso Grilled Asparagus, & Exotic Mushrooms Mix, & for dessert the Chocolate Bomb. The clam chowder was full of flavor & if there was a larger size - I would have bought it! The steak was excellent & had leftover later on for a midnight stack. which I love! The glazed carrots were a hard pass & would have just had them with butter & seasonings instead, the asparagus & exotic mushrooms were my absolute favorite, mouth watering good with the steak. To top it all off the setup for the chocolate bomb was a sight to see taking place & the dessert was excellent with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The restaurant is massive with class & elegance along with their customer service - have & beyond, including the chef making my oder to their recommendations. Table for one $207 & worth every hard earned penny. I will be back when I am staying at the hotel.

The best filet mignon ever, better than Morton's down the street. great staff and very friendly. Wagyu sliders were amazing too. Try the Sonoma salad

- green papaya salad- the salad did not have any dressing. The prawns were large, but no flavor. - The octopus was uncooked and hard to chew. we are given a butter knife to cut it chewing it felt like I was chewing rubber. - my boyfriend got Wagyu rabbi steak which was $145. It was super oily. It was not flavorful as well. Definitely not worth 145. Had better steak at Be Steak, and Alexander's steak house. -The only thing that was good. There were the scallops, and that was mainly due to the sauce. The servers were great and friendly and attentive, which made the experience a little better other than the food not being well . We paid 362 for mid mediocre food .

Do you want to visit a restaurant and feel like you're in a 5 start resort with great food and drinks? Say no more because this place has your back! The food is delicious and flavorful! Service was exceptional and felt nice to have someone check up on you to refill refreshments. There is also plenty of parking and you have a nice view once you exit since there is Christmas In The Park!

This place is perfect for date night, the ambiance of the black room is dim while the front part is more casual. We ordered 2 fillets, 8oz & 12oz medium. Perfectly cooked, I would've gotten the medium rare but completely slipped my mind. Nice crispy top, and seasoned lightly. I got a side of normal mashed potatoes , and my friend got fries. Cant go wrong with that. Drinks: we tried most of the menu! I tried matcha clouds, lavender bees knees, and passion fruit cosmo. Matcha clouds barely tasted like matcha but mainly yuzu, presentation for the matcha was outstanding. Lavender bees knees was average nothing I care about much. But the passion fruit cosmo is my ultimate favorite 10/10. My friend got an old fashion and he said he likes it. Would I come back? Yes, service was great, super attentive and always happy smiles.

I came here a few times before. Always been great. But today, Thanksgiving Day, reserved for lunch. Ordered the Wagyu Bavette, which was good, however the other food we ordered was not. My dad ordered the Thanksgiving special with has turkey, stuffing, cranberry, cornbread. He said the only thing good was the cranberry. Turkey was dry. My daughter got the 6oz fillet mignon but it was way undercooked, so we sent it back, then it came back still undercooked, so they made us a new one but we were all finished with our food when her food came. Good thing our waiter said that they will take care of the steak and the dessert. Ambiance was always classy. Not noisy, it wasn't packed.

Service is soooo.... slowwww.... Ambiance is busier but also noisier Shrimp cocktail is pretty good, parker house rolls are awesome, lobster tail was so overcooked it required steak knife to cut, first filet was black and moo (rare) which was replaced by medium rare that was okay but huge amount of a salt was a distraction, and the crab fried rice "with no garlic" had so much garlic that your mouth burned. Had to ask repeatedly for update on appetizers, food, etc. and server messed up Bernaise sauce for steak and was largely absent. I ended up only eating the appetizers. Manager blamed them having 4 larger parties yet restaurant was 80% empty... not my problem since they could/should have planned for it. Manager comped whole meal and it still wasn't a good value. Only giving the two stars because Hector who wasn't our server was very helpful. Time to stop by McDonald's.

This is in the center of downtown San Jose. Parking was annoying, didn't realize there was a parking lot across from the restaurant. Anywho, they were super accommodating and waited on us even though we stayed past their normal business hours. Food was 4/5, dessert was okay. They ran out a few popular things, which makes sense since we ordered it at 10 pm. The Waiters were very accommodating to our last guests. They were super and explained what they recommended. I appreciate that as this was a work dinner. Thank you for staying past 9 pm for us to finish up eating around 10:30pm.

The menu is very simple but the food is very good! We were the only ones in there for lunch so it felt like our own private experience. Service was fast. Great place overall. Had the waygu steak sandwich and the burger. Amazing.

Birthday dinner = amazing. Joel = even better! From the second we sat down, he was charming, upbeat, and just the sweetest. He made sure everything was perfect without ever being over the top!! just the right amount of friendly and fun. It's rare to find someone with such natural people skills and a good heart to match. Joel, you made my birthday sparkle a little brighter thank you!! such a treasure

We had a party of 10 celebrating my father in law's 100th birthday on a Tuesday night. Our server Jose and his supporting staff were 5 star, they were attentive, knowledgeable, polite. Our drinks and food were all delivered to our table in a timely manner. After I cut our cake and Jose took my cake knife and serving spatula to the kitchen and washed them for me. Everyone seemed pleased their entrees. I thought the menu was overpriced & I was unimpressed with my dish which was the KING PRAWNS & SCALLOP PAPPARDELLE with Pomodoro sauce for $45. I ate the shrimp, but the pasta & sauce was very plain & lacked flavor. Our table was in a room that was sparsely decorated with no real warmth, no candle lights or dining ambiance. The guest of honor had no complaints, these were just my own observations.

This place has gone down hill. Omg terrible tasting food, no flavor and it's so dead that it looks like it's shutting down. They have no beers on tap, no drink menu and that's just the beginning. Ny steak super bland. Ugh! Crab fried rice is horrible taste like fabuloso cleaner. I can't even give this food to my dog. They need to revamp this whole place. It's not the staff's fault. Better off eating stadium food. .

Most certainly a 5 Star experience . This Resto impressed our party of three. Everything about our dinner was fantastic. Paul, our server, went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and taken care of throughout the meal. He was a wealth of knowledge with a great sense of humor. The other staff was so helpful and professional as well. Our food was delicious to the last bite and very well presented. We started with fresh baked warm bread and butter and some crispy Calamari. For our Entrées we enjoyed the Nordic Halibut with Brussel Sprouts, Australian Lamb Chops with Lobster Mac-n-Cheese and a perfectly cooked medium rare 8oz. Flat Iron Steak with Miso Glazed Asparagus. Followed by a spongy yet delectable Japanese Cheesecake that was first released to us that night. Also we devoured a scrumptious Orange zesty Bread Pudding. We all agreed that we should have ordered two of those! I treated myself to a Highland Park 12 Scotch Whiskey that complimented the meal perfectly.

I have been coming to this establishment for over 5 years, as I come here as a tradition while attending the Fanime convention every year. I have to say that I was fairly disappointed with my dining experience. Firstly, I want to give major props to our server. Service overall was fantastic. The menu and food...was lacking. There was nothing that truly stood out on the menu. My food was fine, I had filet mignon and a lobster tail. Both cooked well. However, the restaurant was out of several sauces/ butters that were on the menu, which was disappointing, being that the restaurant was not busy. Again, food was good, but for the price tag, I expected better. We are unsure if we will go back next year. Hopefully, we will see a change in the menu by then.

One of the worst steaks I have ever had. It was so dry I barely ate any. My friend's was the same. She took one bite. It was the most expensive meal we had in San Jose and definitely the worst in terms of food. The one plus was that the servers were really nice.

Service was great. We were looking for a place to have a late late lunch on Friday . We wanted to take my parents and my aunt that came from Mexico to have some fine dining as a new tradition. This was the only place that opens at 4pm. We didn't know what to expect. We were hungry. We didn't care for price . They sat us down and took care of us promptly. Service was fast taking our order and getting us settled. We didn't know what to get. My dad got the chicken . Mom got lamb my aunt did too. Husband got short ribs and I wanted something soupy and ended up getting a lentil soup. My kids got tenders and hamburger from kids menu. Husband got a side of lobster Mac n cheese, broccolini and mashed potatoes to share. Oh and a martini. Prices seamed high but let me tell you , the food was amazingly delicious. Very flavorful and tasty. From the sides to main course to the kiddos meals. Nothing we ate or shared disappointed. I tried my aunts lamb chops and it was amazing. I tried my husbands food and it didn't disappoint. I tried everything down to the kids fries and wow beat darn fries ! Plus the waiter was attentive and spoke Spanish . The ambiance was great with dimmed lights . We sat by the window better lighting too. Asked for the recipe for spiced carrot and lentil soup . The server was kind enough to ask the chef. But no luck hahah understandable haha that lentil soup was a must and being pregnant I want more of it! I don't understand the ratings other people gave . We thought it was worth it for the pretty penny we paid . Worth it !

Me and buddy were heading to the Improv and wanted to grab a nice meal. I suggest The Grill because it's an upper scale venue. I've eaten there before a few times and the service the and the quality of the food has always been great. Howver last night which was a Sunday, that was not the same as my previous experiences. There a few folks at the bar and about 4 tables with other patrons. We both ordered two drinks which were $19 each and they were smooth. I ordered a cup of Lobster bisque soup which was $24 with the KING Prawns for $42 and my buddy order the Octupus for $26. We asked for bread which she said took time to make and was planning to eat it with the soup. We didn't get water after sometime being seated, I think we got our drinks first before the water. She asked if I wanted them to come out the same time and I wanted the soup first. The soup arrived and the busser said, I will return with a spoon. My buddy and I looked at each other and kinda laughed. How can you drop off a soup with no spoon and return later? The soup tasted great however, no bread ever came before I finished it. The meals came and my buddy liked his Octopus. I received three shrimp which were smaller than a Tiger prawn. They smelled very fishy, I ate the first one and it had a funny flavor. I started on the second one and it was worse. I couldn't eat it, and told the waitress it wasn't good. She said she would talk with her manager. She dropped off the check and said she took off the cost of the bread. The bread actually arrived after the check. Now the bread was great. It was hot and fresh and I just wished I had it with the soup. This venue has completely been flipped upside down since I remember it. Unfortunately, not a place I would reccomend to anyone. The bread filled me up and we made to the show early. The total bill was $142.19.

Two things: -- no photos and limited checkins because I'm only here for work events -- a couple of years ago, I would have given the Grill 4 stars. Now I'm close to 2 What happened? For starters (pun intended), there's no lunch menu any more. They don't even pretend. It's called the dinner menu and it's dinner prices. The menu was halved. I mean I know it's a steak house but there's almost nothing but steaks how. Back in the day I could get a dinner salad or fish tacos or a sandwich. Nope. And what kind a steak house doesn't serve a wedge salad. Or stock blue cheese? Or horseradish. So why is it 3 stars? Because the food is still quite good. At a recent lunch I had the salmon (a special) and it was expertly grilled with some nice veggies. Sadly, we were the only people who showed up for lunch on Friday. I want the Grill to survive so I'll keep supporting it but... geez

04-27-25 Just popped in to kill sometime before watching Pink Floyd at the IMAX. Justin was our bartender. He made a very good old fashion and Bees Knees. The bar area was nicely kept. Justin was friendly and professional. We were greeted at the door and thanked when we left.

My boyfriend took me here for a Valentine's dinner. We had the surf & turf special with sides, plus the bread and everything was great. Unfortunately, I can't remember our servers name but she is typically at the bar and it was her first time as a server. The service was good and you couldn't even tell it was her first time at all. We didn't find this out until the end when we got the bill. I haven't been back here for a very long time and it's still good quality of food and nice dining experience.

My mom and I were in the area and decided to try this place out. So glad we did because it's literally a hidden gem!! I had the chicken, and my mom had the salmon. We got seated pretty quickly at the bar even though it was on a Friday night, and the service was also top tier. Vanessa took care of us and made sure to regularly check on us. I'm used to needing to wave someone down just for a refill, but not at The Grill on The Alley. It was honestly such a great vibe, and although it is a fine dining experience, the atmosphere was comfy, chic, and 10/10 would come back again just to grab a cocktail at their bar with some girlfriends.

No Martinis at an "upscale" bar?? Out of everything. No olives, only house vodka, out of olive juice. Bar was empty.

After a long drive from Southern California, I was looking forward to a nice steak. So I ordered a Filet Mignon medium and split pea soup. The filet came out well done and looked and tasted like a brisket. The piece they served me was very fatty. I thought Filet Mignon was supposed to be a lean piece of meat that melts in your mouth. It's possible they gave me a wrong piece of beef. However the bill said it was a filet. Needless to say it was terrible. The split pea soup was like warm and the peas weren't cooked enough. $90 later and I left very disappointed. Not sure I'd try this again.

Me and my buddy was driving all over town looking for a steakhouse to eat at . Somehow we ended up here. We came in around 2 pm and this place had a few other people there. When we came walked in we were greeted by a very nice young lady. This was our first time here and I feel like this place tries really hard to make things look upscale, but it's really not . While I was waiting for my food I was on yelp looking at pics and I noticed they had complimentary bread on there. So I ask the waitress about it and she said that the bread is only for people that ask for it, which I thought was stupid cuz you're supposed the ask the guests if they would like bread or not. Or just give it to them and stop being cheap. I ended up ordering the French onion soup and the crab cake blt. The French onion soup was not that bad . The crab cake BLT on the other hand was really bad. My crab cake was kinda cold and the flavor of it tasted like it been in the freezer for years. My buddy ordered the dry aged prime ribeye and he said his steak was ok. I noticed the chimichurri sauce that came with his steak was really dark. They probably made it like a week ago. This place was kinda pricy for the quality of food that they put out. We both agreed that we will never eat here again!

I took my team here for a lunch event and it was lovely. The service was great. The ambience was quiet except for us being too loud. The menu is good and the desserts were nice. Service was a little slow because we were a big group, but I don't fault them for that. If you're looking for a place for a group, this is a nice place.

Overall enjoyed the food I had here! Be sure to make a reservation if you come - I didn't, and their dining room was full for the night. However, I was able to snag the last table in the bar/lounge area for the end of happy hour, which also served the full regular menu! The star of the night was the Ahi Tuna Poke. It comes with an avocado mousse that pairs so well with the fish - even our waiter raved about it. Definitely my favorite of the night! The other happy hour plates were also very good - the pepper steak bites and the filet skewers had great meat and great flavors. The one dish we got from the regular menu was the beef bourgignon. It was essentially a beef stew dish without the soup/stew part. Pretty good, but next time I'd probably skip the entire and go straight to dessert! The service was nice and everyone was attentive to us. My only other comment would be that it felt like we were in a bit of a dark corner - some better lighting or just table placement may help with that in the future. Overall, I recommend this place for a happy hour type meal!

This is a great alternative to Flemings. You'll love it here if they are fully staffed. The food is really good and the ambiance is great. You can also sit outdoors for a sunny meal with a breeze. This is an anniversary dinner type of place. It's a place where you have an important meeting. Lots of lawyers hang out here. The prices are such to attract a certain crowd. If you're looking for exclusivity, it's your place. Drinks are very strong. Highly recommend the old fashioned Bread is hard and butter is not softened. Ordered lobster bisque but not much lobster in it, not even one small tail of lobster. It is very tasty and rich. It's delicious. Crab cake looks awful but tastes amazing. Very poor and lazy plating. No pride was taken in the presentation. Pinot Grigio tastes delicious. Parking - little to none Time to be acknowledged immediately Time to be seated - 5 min , very understaffed One group of four gentlemen sat down and then actually left before even getting service because there's only the bartender helping out everyone in the bar area. Currently 7 customers. They would have made 11. Missed opportunity. 145p arrival on a Monday The host got there at 1:51pm Time to take my order 10 min later Time to get water 10 minutes Time to get drink 13 minutes Time to get appetizer 2:06pm Time to get bread and crab cake 2:08 I will return here but only for a special occasion.

Their menu changes since last time we were there. I really enjoyed our first experience there, but the newer "updated" menu was not as good. It's very Japanese fusion for most items now, no longer traditional American Steakhouse fare. While many may really enjoy this, I wasn't expecting the menu change when we went. When I'm in a steakhouse mood, I'd like to get traditional steakhouse items - filet, mashed potatoes with butter, roasted veggies..... While the filet was prepared in a traditional way, I couldn't order a mashed potato side without wasabi in it. The waiter said, "Just try it, you'll really like it!" .... I didn't. I didn't like it. I wanted just a plain Jane mashed potato with butter and/or maybe some garlic. The steak was well prepared. But just not a fan of the other offerings - they were disappointing. Now on the lookout for a new traditional style steakhouse in San Jose.

Used to love it here, especially the bar area. Now not so much. On a recent visit, we stopped in for a daytime cocktail and some small plates. Drinks were fine. However we were shocked at the french onion soup. Described on the menu as "classic french onion," it came deconstructed with fried onions on the side and the "gruyere" shaved on the side. I was aghast and VERY disappointed. Didn't finish it. The broth was also medium temp not hot, tasteless, and weak. The bartenders were very nice and we conversed about the soup. Apparently new chef at Hilton (no longer Fairmont) changed menu items and this is one that is not working out due to lotsa complaints. I get it! Don't call it classic FOS if it isn't. People won't be let down if you tell them it is deconstructed and NO melty cheesy broiled layer on top. It was taken care of nicely by the bartender and we didn't have to pay for something I didn't want and was not good so kudos on that! I may be back and hope they get thei FOS back to what it was as it was great as is! I'm giving 3 stars for service, the cocktails, and the oysters on the half shell that were very good.

This is a nice restaurant whether you want to enjoy with one other person or large groups in their private room. The place was quite empty when we went so it was nice and quiet and we had no issues conversing with our party of four. The food was good but not going to say excellent. The apps were decent but they didn't strike me as "amazing". The presentation of the dishes was more appealing to me than the taste TBH. We started off with a few apps: The scallops, the shrimp cocktail and the lobster bisque. I had ordered the Caesar salad but had to return it as the flavor was just not there and it actually left a bad taste for me. So they replaced that with the bisque which was nice and buttery, creamy with small pieces of lobster. The soft bread is always a great compliment to the meals. Three of us ordered steaks and I had the lamp chops. The chops were good and they were cooked nicely. It's really hard for me to find great lamb chops. My neighbor has been making the most incredible lamb chops that are spicy and full of flavor. I could eat an entire rack. So when I go out, I can only compare it to hers which makes it difficult for me as they are so perfect (and I've had those many times). These chops were cooked perfectly but they had to be dipped in sauce in order for me to enjoy them. Per my friends, the steaks were cooked nicely; they were served hot, and served with the peppercorn sauce which they all seemed to enjoy very much. The peppercorn sauce was the highlight it seemed. The dessert was decadent and perfect way to cap of the evening.

There is a lot to be desired! Not sure where to start.. Food, Service.. none was appetizing!

Nordic Halibut: The halibut was nicely seasoned and juicy. Didn't notice the macadamia crust though. Loved the pineapple chutney on top of the halibut as it paired well with the coconut flavors from the pearl couscous. I don't recall any notes of chili essence, but it was a lovely dish.

Filet was great, not the best ever but quite good. Salad was spartan and just adequate, you can get a better pre-mix salad at Safeway. Side dish selections and quality were "meh" Service was poor to adequate, somewhere in between Price was outlandish. Over priced doesn't come close to describing the problem. Insanely overpriced!! Until today, The Grill on the Alley used to be my family's favorite place for that "once in a year indulgence"......., never again! I recommend against this restaurant. Sad to leave this review but it is what it is.

It's a shame to see how far this place has gone downhill. The Grill used to be THE best steakhouse dwntwn and now i don't believe I can bring myself to ever go back. I've been watching its decline for a while, now as it's been poorly managed for several years. However, this last time was the nail in the coffin. Sat for 10 minutes before being acknowledged. Took another 10 minutes after that to get water. An additional 10 minutes before our order was even taken. (We were one of three tables in the place) and the apps were served before or drinks hit the table. We asked for flatware, to no avail and had to grab silverware off another table. That was all within the first hour. As soon as our apps were cleared and all the flatware removed, our entrees were dropped without silverware. Again had to grab forks (etc. ) off another pre-set table. If the steak prices range from 50-140, I simply expect more. Beat-on-the-street is The Grill is closing (or will be converting), apparently there is a new owner. Which would explain why every bottle of wine we attempted to order was unavailable. Why several of the food menu items we tried to order were also out. But really, It's just mostly sad now. Leaving a 5 star review for the memories, for some of the staff that are left (they're not all bad) and for those of you who read these things. If you do choose to visit this dilapidated relic. This shell of a once great restaurant, I recommend bellying up to the bar for Happy Hour to grab a bite or a libation.

The restaurant was close to closing but the bartender happily welcomed me in with a really genuine smile. Service like that is hard to find nowadays. The bar loungy area was clean, and had a higher end feel. Was stopping in for cocktails before moving to the next so no food but thank you for offering the menu. Wasn't sure what I wanted and asked her to make me something off menu. Really impressed with the drinks. She burned a cute little cherry into the ice cube and whipped out a really lovely concoction using pear vodka, bitters and lemon. Second cocktail was just as lovely. She called it a bees knees and there was a whole honey comb in it. The honey complimented the pear. Definitely coming back in to try some food. Seems bit pricey so more of a special occasion but what a truly lovely experience.

Whenever I'm in a mood to treat myself to an all-American burger in DTSJ, I hit The Grill on The Alley. They've got a full bar with some of the nicest staff and bartenders, always polite and respectful. It is inside a hotel, so business casual is the way to go. Definitely a great place for a business meeting, a first date, or even brining family to explore the area! Parking is scarce, be mindful of the parking structures and especially street parking. I usually park on 2nd street and San Carlos street garage.

We used to love this place, had an awesome happy hour menu with great food and drinks. Decided to go back after searching for a new location and not finding many options. They now changed their menu. There's no happy hour bites and the food was meh at best. Apparently they also did it have happy hour yesterday ??? Stayed and had two drinks , burger salad and soup yet paid $250. The only reason I'm giving it three stars is due to the service, the girl who's at the bar area is very nice and always attentive. She really provides great customer service always. Not planning on going back anytime soon, will have to find a new place

Very conflicted with how to review The Grill. On one hand, the food was excellent. On the other, the experience as a whole was incredibly sub par for the price. Sometime in early November I attempted to book a table for 12. The website said I needed to put in a request because it was a party over 8. I put in the request and waited and waited. After several calls, emails, and follow ups I FINALLY got someone to answer. They told me I needed to contact their events department to book a private party. I told them I had been trying to but was getting no response. After going back and forth the person told me that they would seat us in the dining room. Flash forward several weeks our party size changes to 14. I tried to call to adjust but once again was getting no answer. We show up with 14 people and there is nobody at the host stand. Someone finally comes and tells me they can't accommodate 14 unless we sit in the bar. He said "the reservation was for 12, we can't just do that ma'am this is a steakhouse and we don't have the staffing to add two more people" I told him I understand but I had been calling to no avail. Overall the guy was a little snarky about the whole thing. I went back to the group to figure out what to do and while I was talking to them he decided he can accommodate the two extra people at a separate table. Based on all of this you would think the restaurant was full. No, we were the only table seated in the whole room. We ended up pulling up chairs and luckily we didn't get in trouble. After that everything seemed to move in slow motion. We didn't receive drink menus. We finally got them and ordered, and our drinks took 30 mins to come out despite that we only had 3 cocktails. The drinks came in a phased manner so much so that those who had ordered beer finished before the cocktails even came out. We had to ask our server to order appetizers. All in all they took about another 30 mins to come out. At that point we put in our entrees. Everything seemed to be taking forever at some point so I checked the clock. It was 2:15 and we didn't have entrees. We arrived at 12. Entrees finally arrived and one person's dish was forgotten. Chef sent out a soup on the house to make up for it. The saving grace was the food, everything was delicious and cooked perfectly which is the only reason I am giving an extra star. Desert took another 20 minutes to come out. Everything took so long that half of our party left before desert. Overall the restaurant was completely understaffed for even a 12 person party. You could tell the server was struggling alone although he was trying his best. I understand the annoyance of adding two extra people but I feel they were already understaffed for just 12. The bill was $2000 for 14 people. At that price point I would have expected a meal that didn't take 3.5 hours. The manager checked in to see if we were doing okay and I said yes but there was no apologies for the length of time everything took. Definitely do not come here if you have a large party!

Came in on a whim one Saturday because Tostadas on E. Santa Clara had a 45 min. wait. It was past lunch but way before dinner. W/ nothing in my tummy, I was hungry and was ready to eat. W/o a reservations, we tried anyway. Was greeted almost immediately and was seated by the bartender whom saw us waiting in the front. He ended up being our sever. Not sure if bread was complimentary but I saw a table w/ it but we did not get it. We ordered after we got our drinks. I ended up ordering the mudslide. Ordered the prime ribeye steak (rare) w/ a side of their loaded mac and cheese. Each of their signature steaks come w/ a choice of creamed spinach, creamed corn or broccoli. We opted for creamed corn and creamed spinach - both tasted amazing. My steak came out rare as requested. It was juicy and very flavorful. The loaded mac and cheese was good but not creamy as I'd hope. Aside from the steaks being delicious, the service was awesome. The only negative thing I have to say was that it was hot and stuffy in there. The AC wasn't turned on. I was sweating the entire time.

Great food and staff. Lovely atmosphere. Drinks freshly crafted (not pre mixed). White Negroni was a fun twist on the standard one with Citrus bitters. Yet they should use carved ice to upgrade presentation...

Medium rare steak was cooked to medium well. The server did not come around after the food was served. We weren't able to order more drinks or food. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.

Miss the old menu and food was just ok and below average for the price. Crab fried rice was the best part. We came for the location near the concert venue but not sure we'll be back.

Wife and I booked a table before a show at Civic Center. Good central location and ample parking options. Decor is nice and we got off to a good start. However, good start turned pretty quickly. As others have mentioned, I literally don't think there was a manager working on a Saturday night. Staff was friendly but extremely unorganized. Asked for water 3 times. Never got plates or silverware for our dishes (including spoons for our soup) unless we asked multiple times. Our octopus appetizer was clearly forgotten as it came almost 30 min after we ordered and had to ask if it was coming. Food was good but the prices are too high especially when you consider the service. If you choose to go, you need to be assertive with staff and be prepared to pay $14 for a cup of butternut squash soup and $23 for an old fashioned . Bottom line, ya got better choices in area. Sorry just being honest.

A BIT ON THE HIGHER SIDE, BUT, TOTALLY WORTH IT! Excellent service, attentive and considerate. Good portions are generous and filling. Ambience is intimate and mannered. Only negative was the champagne was warm and not properly chilled. Excellent for a special occasion.